diff --git a/ports/unix/modtime.c b/ports/unix/modtime.c
index 4f0550dbea..1a9bfcd18e 100644
--- a/ports/unix/modtime.c
+++ b/ports/unix/modtime.c
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ static mp_obj_t mp_time_sleep(mp_obj_t arg) {
     tv.tv_sec = (suseconds_t)ipart;
     int res;
     while (1) {
+        mp_handle_pending(true);
         MP_THREAD_GIL_EXIT();
         res = sleep_select(0, NULL, NULL, NULL, &tv);
         MP_THREAD_GIL_ENTER();
@@ -104,7 +105,6 @@ static mp_obj_t mp_time_sleep(mp_obj_t arg) {
         if (res != -1 || errno != EINTR) {
             break;
         }
-        mp_handle_pending(true);
         // printf("select: EINTR: %ld:%ld\n", tv.tv_sec, tv.tv_usec);
         #else
         break;
@@ -114,13 +114,13 @@ static mp_obj_t mp_time_sleep(mp_obj_t arg) {
     #else
     int seconds = mp_obj_get_int(arg);
     for (;;) {
+        mp_handle_pending(true);
         MP_THREAD_GIL_EXIT();
         seconds = sleep(seconds);
         MP_THREAD_GIL_ENTER();
         if (seconds == 0) {
             break;
         }
-        mp_handle_pending(true);
     }
     #endif
     return mp_const_none;